Greece’s dominance of world shipping has been reaffirmed in fresh data circulating this week, with the Greek-owned fleet now numbering about 5,800 vessels. According to the Union of Greek Shipowners, it accounts for 61% of EU-controlled fleet capacity and 19.1% of world merchant-fleet tonnage, with Greece ranking first in oil tankers and LNG carriers and second in bulk carriers — the ship types that move much of the world’s energy and raw materials.
The figures align with UNCTAD’s Review of Maritime Transport 2025, which confirms the same leadership in ownership terms at the start of 2025, when Greek owners controlled 5,124 vessels and 398 million deadweight tons, or 16.4% of global capacity. China followed with 10,440 vessels, 347 million tons and 14.4%, while Japan held 4,083 vessels, 241 million tons and 9.9% — together the three countries held more than 40% of world shipping capacity, underscoring how a comparatively small fleet of large, high-value tankers and gas carriers gives Greece an outsized role in global energy and commodity trade despite China operating roughly double the number of ships.
Source: Greek City Times — https://greekcitytimes.com/2026/09/25/greece-controls-the-worlds-largest-shipping-fleet-by-capacity
Tags: Greek Shipping, Union of Greek Shipowners, Merchant Fleet, UNCTAD
